Author: Courtney Alameda
Pub. Date: February 20, 2018
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 384
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Set against
a future of marauding space scavengers and deadly aliens who kill with sound,
here is a frightening, fast-paced YA adventure from the author of the acclaimed
horror novel, Shutter.
Tuck has been in stasis on the USS John Muir, a ship that houses Earth’s most valued artifacts—its natural resources. Parks and mountains are preserved in space.
Laura belongs to a shipraiding family, who are funded by a group used to getting what they want. And they want what’s on the Muir.
Tuck and Laura didn’t bargain on working together or battling mutant aliens who use sound to kill. But their plan is the only hope for their crews, their families, and themselves.
In space, nobody can hear you scream . . . but on the John Muir, the screams are the last thing you'll hear.
Brooke's Review:
So, honestly, I don't do creepy. And when I was given the chance to read this book I was skeptical. Afraid whatever was in it might give me nightmares. I figured, I'm an adult, I should pull up my big girl pants and brave the storm. And I am very glad I did. What started as creepy from the first page turned into a science fiction thrill ride that I could not put down!
Imagine, deep space, years and years into the future, and you wake up from stasis not knowing what you'll find, only to realize you've been asleep for 400 years! From there Alameda takes you on a thrill ride through space. Creatures you didn't expect, twists and turns you didn't know would happen, and characters who grow on you quickly.
I loved the dual narration of the book. It gave me a chance to be in both character's heads. To hear what they each thought and see how very differently they reacted to situations. Laura is strong willed and super smart. She uses both to her advantage in every situation. Tuck comes across as more street smart, learning things as he goes and using his past to guide him.
Almeda introduces creatures that are beyond your imagination. Things you would not ever want to see in your nightmares let alone in the deep areas of space where no one is there to rescue you. He descriptions helped me picture the most unimaginable things in my mind, which I was sure would have me seeing things behind my eyes when I slept (thankfully, this didn't happen).
Her writing is easy to read. Descriptions are spot on and build a world where you can hear every sound, feel every change in the air, and even smell what is terrifying to the characters. And her inclusion of pop culture was amazing. I loved it from the very start. How Tuck was always quoting it and finding ways to stick it into conversation. It made the book fun and lightened the mood during many dark situations the characters got involved with.
Anyone with a love of science fiction and futuristic stories will pick this one and not be able to put it down. I'm so happy I agreed to read an advanced copy of this amazing book.
I didn't get a chance to read this author's first book, Shutter, but I'll be putting that high on my TBR now!
Imagine, deep space, years and years into the future, and you wake up from stasis not knowing what you'll find, only to realize you've been asleep for 400 years! From there Alameda takes you on a thrill ride through space. Creatures you didn't expect, twists and turns you didn't know would happen, and characters who grow on you quickly.
I loved the dual narration of the book. It gave me a chance to be in both character's heads. To hear what they each thought and see how very differently they reacted to situations. Laura is strong willed and super smart. She uses both to her advantage in every situation. Tuck comes across as more street smart, learning things as he goes and using his past to guide him.
Almeda introduces creatures that are beyond your imagination. Things you would not ever want to see in your nightmares let alone in the deep areas of space where no one is there to rescue you. He descriptions helped me picture the most unimaginable things in my mind, which I was sure would have me seeing things behind my eyes when I slept (thankfully, this didn't happen).
Her writing is easy to read. Descriptions are spot on and build a world where you can hear every sound, feel every change in the air, and even smell what is terrifying to the characters. And her inclusion of pop culture was amazing. I loved it from the very start. How Tuck was always quoting it and finding ways to stick it into conversation. It made the book fun and lightened the mood during many dark situations the characters got involved with.
Anyone with a love of science fiction and futuristic stories will pick this one and not be able to put it down. I'm so happy I agreed to read an advanced copy of this amazing book.
I didn't get a chance to read this author's first book, Shutter, but I'll be putting that high on my TBR now!
Excerpt:
LAURA
I wake on the Hall of Artifacts’ crysteel ceiling, stars
beneath my head, the world inverted. Fallen.
My vision’s blurry, but there’s no mistaking the fire
crackling a few feet away. It pops and hisses as it licks up oxygen. A thin
layer of smoke bubbles along the roof. The alarms, now silent, have been
replaced by two terrifying sounds—the fire’s growl and the raspy whistle of
escaping air.
What happened? I barely remember the crash: the terrarium,
looming impossibly large in the Conquistador’s windows, Alex screaming my name,
and the ouroboros symbols burning bright on the Alfa Bridge’s workstations.
How long have I been out?
Groaning, I roll onto my back. Ay, ay, ay, everything hurts.
My bioware nodes gleam like glassy fish eyes set in my wrists. I tap one node
with a fingernail. It doesn’t respond. No surprises there—if the ship’s on fire
and leaking air, her silos have been damaged and no longer support bioware
functionality. My subjugator lies dead, too.
I’d call it a silver lining if the crash weren’t total and
complete mierda. Maybe I’m free from Smithson influence, but for all I know, I
won’t be alive long enough to enjoy my freedom. The ISG calls the regions
beyond the Kuiper Belt the “dead zone” for a reason—if a ship gets into trouble
so far from home, the ISG won’t come to the rescue.
We’re on our own.
The pressure’s too low in the room. I draw deep, dizzying
breaths to get enough oxygen. We must be leaking air and cabin pressure, and
fast. The grav systems are active, but if I’m on the ceiling, the crash must
have scrambled the grav’s drag angles. Everything smells chemical. My head
throbs, the pain stabbing through my left eye and out the back of my skull.
It’s frigid, so cold I can’t feel the tips of my fingers, nose, or ears.
Floatglass glints amber in the oscillating emergency lights.
A few artifact cases remain in place, hanging like the old images of cave
stalactites I’ve seen. The rest lie on the floor, broken and busted, their
artifacts destroyed. Thousands of years of history, gone in an instant because
I failed to stop a terrorist. The Noh Mask hacker bested me, and now everything
I love lies in ruins.
Now I can only hope my family and friends have survived,
too.
I squeeze my eyes shut, saying a quick prayer to whatever
god might be listening. Let my family have survived the crash, I think as
loudly as I can. Let us find a way out of this mess.
About Courtney:
A veteran
bookseller and librarian, Courtney Alameda now spends her days writing thriller
and horror novels. Her debut novel, SHUTTER, was nominated for a Bram Stoker
Award and hailed as a "standout in the genre" by School Library
Journal. Her forthcoming novels include the science fiction/horror mashup,
PITCH DARK (Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends 2018), and SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS, an
urban fantasy set in Japan. (Co-authored with Valynne
Maetani.
HarperTeen 2018).
Courtney
holds a degree in English literature with an emphasis in creative writing. She
is represented by John M. Cusick of Folio Literary. A northern California
native, she now resides in Utah with her husband, a legion of books, and a tiny
five-pound cat with a giant personality.
Member HWA,
SFWA, SCBWI; and SDCC Creative Professional.
Giveaway Details: International
3 winners
will receive a signed finished copy of PITCH DARK & pin with a quote that’s
important to the story, US Only.
Ends on March
6th at Midnight EST!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
2/19/2018- Here's to Happy
Endings- Review
2/19/2018- Adventures
of a Book Junkie- Interview
2/20/2018- The Blonde
Bookworm- Review
2/20/2018- BookHounds
Ya- Guest
Post
2/21/2018- A Gingerly
Review- Review
2/21/2018- Literary
Meanderings- Excerpt
2/22/2018- Howling
Libraries- Review
2/22/2018- YA Books
Central- Interview
2/23/2018- The OWL Book
Review Blog- Review
2/23/2018- Pretty
Deadly Reviews- Review
Week Two:
2/26/2018- Smada's Book
Smack- Review
2/26/2018- Mary Had a
Little Book Blog- Review
2/27/2018- Adventures
Thru Wonderland- Review
2/27/2018- Tales of the
Ravenous Reader- Interview
2/28/2018- Two Chicks
on Books- Excerpt
2/28/2018- A Dream
Within A Dream- Interview
3/1/2018- Savings in
Seconds- Review
3/1/2018- The Cover
Contessa- Excerpt
3/2/2018- Reading for
the Stars and Moon- Review
3/2/2018- Abooktropolis- Review
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